Don't be over sensitive with China: Krishna

On the political side, I was reassured by the President of Sri Lanka that 'the 13th Amendment plus' seems to be a categorical assurance which he has given to the Tamil-speaking Sri Lankan citizens. Even when he visited India he had conveyed to the Prime Minister and to others that devolution of power is part of the agenda that he has, some doubts were expressed by certain Tamil representatives of the Sri Lankan citizenry. Hence it was necessary for me to broach this subject again with the President, and it was heartening to learn of his continued commitment to improve on the 13th Amendment in terms of devolution of powers.

This also gave me an opportunity to travel to the North and to the South and review the various developmental projects that India has undertaken in Sri Lanka. I was very happy to see the housing programme, which is our flagship programme, and the thousand houses that are being built on a pilot basis. A large number of them have been completed and I handed over some of the houses to the prospective beneficiaries. I distributed 10,000 cycles and I also provided other assistance in terms of their means. In the South in Galle I was able to present the Education Initiative by offering a number of scholarships to the school-going children, to the graduate level students, to the post-graduate level students, and for research work that is being done.

India realizes that education is the foundation which is a prerequisite for the development of a country. On the whole, I have a sense of satisfaction that all the programmes that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had announced are being pursued vigorously in Sri Lanka.

Question: Sir, the fortunate survivors of the Italian ship tragedy are coming back to India today. How is MEA supporting them?

External Affairs Minister: They are being received in all the international airports. Arrangements have been made to take care of them. We will see to it that they reach their homes and they will be able to pursue their normal activities.

Question: Sir, one of the members, Mr. Rebello, is still missing. Any information on that with the MEA?

External Affairs Minister: No.

Question: Only one person is missing?

External Affairs Minister: Only one person is missing.

Question: Recently we saw certain tensions between India and China regarding the traders and regarding the other issues like they have not given visa to our military delegation, and we had to cut the size of it. Do you see that India-China relations are again going astray?

External Affairs Minister: Let us not be over sensitive about our relationship with China. I think the relationship is on a very firm footing. We have a strategic relationship with them. We have a strategic partnership with them. India would like to continue to have good bilateral relations with China.

Question: Are you convinced ...(Inaudible)... What transpired between you and the TNA and the Sri Lankans? ...(Inaudible)... India's intervention?

External Affairs Minister: I have had a discussion with a cross section of the people of Sri Lanka. I met my old friend Mr. Sambandham and I also met the present Law Minister Mr. Rauff Hakeem and we exchanged notes about the bilateral relationship. I was also satisfied with my conversation with both these leaders who represent two wings of Sri Lankan polity.

Question: Sir, is India happy with the steps being taken by Sri Lankan Government to end the ethnic crisis with regard to the political solution? Or, does India think that they have to do more in terms of achieving a political solution?

External Affairs Minister: I think it goes without saying that '13th Amendment plus' has to be implemented in a very visible manner. Till then, naturally we will keep looking forward to the implementation of the assurance which has been given to the people there, and in our talks whatever has been conveyed to us. So, we will look forward to it.

Question: Sir, could you summarise in one sentence the difference which you see between the last visit and this visit?

External Affairs Minister: Many houses have come up between my last visit and this visit. I find that the country as a whole is embarking on a developmental agenda. For three decades they have gone through the worst of times. Naturally the people and the Government leaders are all looking forward to an era of peaceful development.

Thank you.